Caption: The data flight recorder is used to record instrument readouts when an aircraft is in flight. In the event of an accident the data held in the recorder is used to simulate the last hours of the flight. Most commercial and military aircraft carry a flight recorder in the cockpit and one in the tail of the plane. The data flight recorder or Black Box as it is commonly called is really a bright orange colour. This box is designed to withstand intense flames for an hour, and withstand the pressure from the deepest ocean. On the front of the box is a metal cylinder that contains the Acoustic Beacon, a device that activates on contact with water. The acoustic beacon produces pulses of sound at 160 Db and will run for 30 days underwater.